- Melissa Barrera is in hot water
- She made some comments about Palestine
- THIS is what producers didn't like
The reason behind this startling cut? A series of explosive social media statements that have ignited a firestorm of controversy and accusations of antisemitism. 'Scream' fans, brace yourselves! Barrera's Instagram stories, which compared Gaza's situation to a "concentration camp" and decried it as "GENOCIDE & ETHNIC CLEANSING," have sent shockwaves through Hollywood.
Melissa has stepped in it
'The Hollywood Reporter' first dropped the bombshell news of Barrera's departure, and the industry has been in an uproar ever since. Spyglass, the powerhouse behind the 'Scream' sequel, didn't mince words. They've made it crystal clear: They're cutting ties faster than a horror movie villain, and they're not looking back!
"Spyglass’ stance is unequivocally clear: We have zero tolerance for antisemitism or the incitement of hate in any form, including false references to genocide, ethnic cleansing, Holocaust distortion or anything that flagrantly crosses the line into hate speech," Spyglass, the studio behind Scream VII, said in a statement to 'People.'
Reps for Barrera did not respond to requests for comment.
In one written message from her Instagram Story quoted in the report and circulating social media after the news, Barrera allegedly wrote, "I have been actively looking for videos and information about the Palestinian side for the last 2 weeks or so, following accounts etc. Why? Because Western media only shows the other side. Why they do that, I will let you deduce for yourself."
No words minced
In any case, Barrera helped revitalize the franchise with 'Scream,' the 2022 feature that earned $137.7 million globally and combined generations of cast members from the franchise.
Barrera’s "Sam Carpenter" was the lead of that film, and the older sister of Jenna Ortega’s "Tera." Barrera also starred in 'Scream VI,' which was released in March and topped $168.9 million at the global box office.
But there's more drama! The Writers Guild of America is caught in the crosshairs, too. With no consensus among its members, the guild's silence has ruffled feathers, leaving some Jewish writers feeling abandoned and calling for action.
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And over at Creative Artists Agency, the plot thickens. Maha Dakhil, a top agent, has stepped down amidst her own social media scandal, after sharing a post accusing Israel of genocide.
Despite her apology and post-deletion, the damage was done. Even Aaron Sorkin, an Oscar-winning screenwriter, has jumped ship to a rival agency. The buzz is unstoppable, and the fallout is just beginning. Stay tuned as we slice through the latest updates and keep you screaming for more!
